Thursday, May 05, 2022

Where Is Your Bookmark: My Recent Read & Dystopia or Utopia?




A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.


It's often a man's mouth that breaks his nose, my uncle Mick was fond of saying, and the bloke in front of me was doing his best to test the theory. [opening of The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver]



A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.



I was awakened at the crack of dawn by a sharp rapping on the door of my flat. I looked at my clock. It was five in the morning. [excerpt from 56% of The Key to Deceit]

I love that first line. Isn't it the truth sometimes?  These excerpts come from an early release copy of Ashley Weaver's The Key to Deceit. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, A Peculiar Combination, and was excited to start this one. 

The second in the Electra McDonnell series from Edgar-nominated author Ashley Weaver, The Key to Deceit, is a delightful World War II mystery filled with spies, murder, romance, and wit.

London, 1940. After years of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor—well, to themselves, anyway—Ellie McDonnell and her family have turned over a new leaf as they help the government’s war effort. It’s true that the straight-laced Major Ramsey didn’t give them much choice, but still, Ellie must admit she doesn’t miss breaking and entering as much as she might have thought. What she does miss is the challenge of unlocking an impossible code and the adrenaline rush that comes from being somewhere she shouldn’t.

So when Major Ramsey turns up unannounced with another job, she can’t say no. A woman’s body has been found floating in the Thames, with a bracelet locked onto her wrist, and a cameo locket attached to it. It’s clear this woman was involved in espionage, but whose side was she on? Who was she reporting to? And who wanted her dead?

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? Did you read the first book in the series? 


Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.
Which do you think is more likely - clean utopia or frenzied dystopia? (Julie @ Stepping Stone Book Reviews)

 

This is actually last week's Book Blogger Hop question, but it gave me an idea for this week's Connect Five feature and so I decided to include it here. There is often a fine line between utopian and dystopian societies. The idea of a clean utopia may sound good on the surface, but underneath there always seems to lurk something darker; we see this a lot in fiction--and even when looking at real life communities that carry that promise. Cults, anyone? There's another way of looking at it too. For those on the inside, life may seem like a utopia, but for those on the outside . . . not so much.  If recent years are anything to go by, a frenzied dystopia is more likely--some would even argue we are already there. 

Five books I enjoyed reading that fit the dystopia/utopia theme: 


After the Flood by Kassandra Montag


The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey


The Road by Cormac McCarthy


The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, Marlaine Delargy


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, 
read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. 
Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.


What are some of your favorite dystopia and/or utopia novels?


 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!


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28 comments:

  1. That opening made me laugh. And the plot sounds wonderful. I hadn't heard of this series, but now I want to read them.

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    1. Mark - I liked the first book slightly better, but both were good. I really enjoy the series and do recommend it.

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  2. Ashley Weaver's series is on my reading list. Thanks for reminding me. Happy reading!

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  3. Love that saying, it's kind of true when you think about it. :-) Happy weekend!

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  4. I love the art deco look of that cover. I also love that first line. "It's often a man's mouth that breaks his nose" if that isn't the truest statement ever!!

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  5. Sounds intriguing. I love the cover.

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  6. Atwood is always a good read. Most of the dystopian novels I've read are YA; I had a year or two ages ago when it seemed that was my go-to genre.

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    1. Helen - A Dystopia setting seems to be a favorite among YA authors.

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  7. Sounds like a good series!

    Have a great weekend!

    Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
    https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/the-friday-56-twelve-days-in-may-by-niamh-hargan-romance-chicklit/

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  8. I hope you enjoy this one. Happy reading!

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  9. That first line of The Key to Deceit is great! It made me want to keep reading. :) Have a great weekend.

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    1. Anne - If you do decide to try it, I hope you enjoy it.

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  11. I love the cover for The Key to Deceit. It's really cool. It along with your quote makes me want to read it. :)

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    1. Jenni Elyse - If you do read it, I hope you enjoy it!

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  12. I think most clean utopias end up being disguised dystopias, probably because an actual utopia would be too boring as a novel setting :p

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  13. I did not read the first book but I definitely think I would enjoy it and this one sounds fantastic! I have a feeling a clean utopia would have a very limited shelf life before it became a dystopia.

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    1. Katherine - I think you would enjoy Ashley Weaver's series too.

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